Luxury holidays in Naxos

Once a cultural hub of ancient empires, Naxos is now a go-to Greek getaway for in-the-know holiday seekers. It’s a laid-back sister island to party-loving Mykonos and Instagram-star Santorini, dotted with historic mountain villages, temple ruins and blue-and-white Byzantine churches. The island’s green interior is a patchwork of lush olive groves, winding vineyards and towering Mount Zeus, the highest peak in the Cyclades; the southwest coast, with long stretches of golden coastline – Panormos beach is best for watersports – and secluded coves, has a handful of boutique seaside stays. In the evenings, beachfront cafés dish out freshly caught seafood – octopus, anyone? – and bottles of locally produced wine as the sun sneaks away beyond the Aegean horizon.